Chripper

So, you've stepped up a level and chose to be here? (I'm guessing you only signed up when Dixon signed?) Get that noose all tight and ready. The previous world cup was so strange, in all my life I don't recall a team receiving so much praise without actually beating anyone of note. To give England credit, though, they were organized, set pieces were impeccable and they played to their strengths. Commando then? Too much information.

They beat Fulham 3:0 (27th October) with a back 3, with Fraser getting MOM.

I think you've been here for a wee bit too long. Have you got tartan boxers yet? I agree with you, though. I like Kane, I think he's a lovely guy and he's a great player, but does he deserve an OBE? No.

I suppose. I think it's an English thing where they put the prize tag over the overall quality of something. eg Something is worth x million pounds, so it must be great. You would listen to Liverpool fans, they're still in dream land because they got Andy Robertson for "pocket change"...a "mere" £8million. They live In a different planet from the rest of us. I agree about Sky, by the way.

….well said...? On topic, Snodgrass and Armstrong were fantastic last night, both of them players just behind the strikers. Which just goes to show that we have umpteen attacking midfielders and no (good) defensive midfielders. People bemoan our lack of right back, but the anchorman position is equally as spartan.

In fairness, I think they're just highlighting how the much the prize money has increased to amounts that players couldn't even dream about, back in the day. They do it with snooker, too. So it's not just Sky and darts.

There ya go. Got it in the end.

No. It's not. Some people are delicate doilies. A guy popped up and said that Ryan Fraser was rubbish when Bournemouth played 3 at the back (I debunked it). So, I can't counter the other side when one our players excels? No? Against the rules is it?

Whilst playing in a 3-4-3?! I don't believe you!! Apparently Scotland players are unable to play in any system that begins with a 3. It confuses the little cherubs. (I agree with you)

Maybe so, I'm also right, though. Happy Holidays. (I don't say the "C" word...Christmas, not cunt.)

Look at the Celtic players who have been written off in recent years, by Celtic fans: McGregor and Christie. Now look how they are performing for club and country. Some people might disagree but Brendan Rodgers has been great for Scotland as he's drilled good habits into his Scottish players and they've taken those habits into the international stage. It's absolutely ridiculous that a player who was a teenager only two months ago has been written off. It just underlines the knee-jerk reactions and mentality of some football fans where they want results now, they want ready-made players now. Patience is a rare commodity nowadays.

I agree that yes, we do get too hung up on systems because at the end of a game it's how the players perform. He did? I'm sure it was just a couple of times. The Craig Brown years where the generation that I grew up in so I always paid extra close attention to every match. Back then we did have much better midfielders and better strikers and better keepers, but you could make an argument about McKenna and Bates and Souttar either being as good as or they could be better than Elliot, Matteo, Daily, Boyd, Calderwood, etc. The entire philosophy of 3-5-2 is to have 8 players down the middle with the midfield being compact and the defensive three being well organized. If you have numbers in certain positions and you're well drilled then it can be a leveller. The key is having a three at the back because when we play with 2 we're the football equivalent of Swiss cheese. My seasonal wish is for there to be an opportunity for me to be proven wrong, but I get the distinct impression that McLeish will play 4-3-3 from now on.

I know that the amount of time the team can practice a system is limited to what, a week or so? I know that that can be a factor, but the more we endeavor and persevere with it the more chance that I think the players have of adapting to it. It won't happen overnight, the only thing that happens overnight is Dawn. Teams across Europe are playing with a variant of 3, and a fair share of them in our top league. I do agree that we had a better midfield under Craig Brown, but not necessarily better defenders... well... apart from Colin Hendry. I think it's moot anyway as Alex McLeish will almost certainly play with 4 at the back till he either quits or he's fired. To be honest, the only chance of us shaking things up is by hiring a progressive manager, but the chances of that happening are nonexistent. I hope I'm wrong, I hope we qualify for 2020 in a blaze of glory with 4 at the back. We all do, that's what brings us together, even if we may fight like cat and dog, at the end of the day we all want the same thing.

You make good points, especially with Fraser, Forrest and Robertson, etc. However, the "That was then and this is now" argument happens after every failed qualification campaign. The exact same thing will happen after the next failed European Championship qualifiers. I guarantee, when we fail to qualify for Euro 2020 the traditional way, I'll bring us altering the system and people will say "That was then and this is now". I respect your opinion, as I do with everyone here, though it may seem otherwise. But in my opinion we don't have players suitable for a 4 at the back system. You say that we do, fine, how many of our players are still in European competitions? Robertson, Gordon, McGregor, Forrest, McTominay, Tierney. No center backs to be seen. As I said, I respect your opinion, so there's no hard feelings with anyone here. I don't mind people disagreeing with me, as long as they do it in a respectful way.

Very good. Boy, egg will be on your face if I return in the future and tell you that I've written such a novel.

Totally. I remember when he broke into the Celtic team a couple years ago and some Celtic fans thought that they had discovered a right sided Kieran Tierney. Not too sure of what went on from them and now, but I really hope he kicks on and improves. I think he's still 20 so there's definitely time for the lad. Here's hoping.

I think people are getting confused by the "V" in MVP. It's not who is most valuable, it's who has contributed most. Forrest, by a mile.

Yep. Apparently I'm on smack for suggesting it.

West Ham midfielder Robert Snodgrass is the most in-form player in the Premier League, according to the Sky Sports Power Rankings. Which is pretty impressive for a player that some Scotland fans wouldn't have in the first team. Apparently some people value pace over talent. I wonder if Usain Bolt has a Scottish granny.

Maybe a little harsh, but I don't really rate Xander Clark. Harsh because I wouldn't blame him for either goal today. Middleton with an assist.

Personally I think he's good enough for the squad right now. Rodgers had GMS and obviously didn't rate him, and yet he's willing to play Johnston as a striker... okay, it might be a case of needs must, but still.

I saw him come on against Celtic and was very impressed. He's a box of tricks! Hopefully McInnes keeps faith with the kid and he develops. I've always had a soft spot for Aberdeen ever since I was a child. Hopefully they can keep this form up and do the improbable by winning the league... them or Kilmarnock... or Hearts, Hibs...Livingston... etc...

...I don't even remember what that's in reference to... Nah. I've never did drugs. Exactly. Ralston has been playing well for the last 2 matches for Celtic, hopefully it's a watershed moment. Plus, I remember him giving Neymar a rollicking for diving when they played against PSG a couple years ago, that endeared me to him.

Agreed. That's why I respect Henderson, Bates, Gauld, St Clair so much, they've bypassed the easy route of going to England and have chosen the road less travelled. I wish more Scottish players would follow suit.

What, you mean the whole 180 minutes we gave It a try? (with one win) Yes, we can it a whole two games and we didn't look like Barcelona, so lets go back to the tried and failed system. "Repetition is the mother of learning"